"The Importance of Being Earnest, A Trivial Comedy for Serious People" is a play by Oscar Wilde. First performed on 14 February 1895 at St. James's Theatre in London, it is a farcical comedy in which the protagonists maintain fictitious personae in order to escape burdensome obligations. Working within the social conventions of late Victorian London, the play's major themes are the triviality with which it treats institutions as serious as marriage, and the resulting satire of Victorian ways. Contemporary reviews all praised the play's humour, though some were cautious about its explicit lack of social messages, while others foresaw the modern consensus that it was the culmination of Wilde's artistic career so far. Its high farce and witty dialogue have helped make "The Importance of Being Earnest" Wilde's most enduringly popular play.
- Just Added Adult Fiction eBooks
- Just Added Adult Nonfiction eBooks
- Spanish Language Titles (Just Added)
- Hallmark After Dark
- YA Titles That Adults Will Love, Too
- Reimagined Classics
- Saw it on Netflix (or Prime or Hulu or HBO), now read the book
- Start a New Series
- Oh My Gods & Goddesses
- Covid and Other Pandemics
- Nonfiction That Reads like Fiction
- War in Ukraine - how did it happen?
- Reese's Book Club
- See all
- New audiobook additions
- Spanish Language Titles (Just Added)
- New Adult Fiction Audiobooks
- New Adult Nonfiction Audiobooks
- YA Titles That Adults Will Love, Too
- Reimagined Classics
- Best Audiobooks for Your Commute
- Audiobooks for the Whole Family
- Covid and Other Pandemics
- Reese's Book Club
- Available now
- New kids additions
- New teen additions
- See all